The period over Christmas and New Year can sometimes come with disrupted routines. Between late-nights due to activities and visits, staying in new or different environments, and the excitement of holiday festivities, your baby’s sleep might have taken a hit. If you're feeling like your little one is off-track, you're not alone! Thankfully, a baby sleep reset after the Christmas disruption is possible with a little patience and consistency. So how do you get back on track?
RE ESTABLISH A CONSISTENT ROUTINE
Starting with a consistent wake time in the mornings as your basis for the rest of the day, continue to work towards a predictable and regular day time nap schedule and bed time. The consistent wake time will enable to rest of the naps to fall into a natural rhythm while helping to re establish their circadian rhythm and also have a positive effect on creating the consistent bed time.
WIND DOWN TIME AND SLEEP ENVIRONMENT
With all the hustle and bustle of the festivities, sometimes the stimulation can overwhelm babies and young children and impact their sleep. Now things are getting back to normality, ensure you're supporting their sleep with plenty of wind down time and a calming sleep environment before bed. At least 30 minutes of wind down time before a sleep is ideal for both naps and night time sleep. Reduce light, externaml stimulation and noise. Try to remove any use of screens a minimum of 1 hour before sleep.
SLEEP HYGIENE
If you've been staying away over the Christmas period, their sleep environment might not have been as optimal as they're used to. Once back home, keep their room cool (Ideally between 16-20*C), dark and with white noise.
SUPPORTING TO SLEEP
If your little one has needed additional support to get them off to sleep that they usually wouldn't require, whether thats been additional rocking to sleep, feeding to sleep or bringing them into bed with you, look at bringing back their usual ways of drifitng off themselves if they were able to do this before. Start with your routine, the slepe hygine and wind down time and if they're still struggling, look into additional methods such as a gradual withdrawal method or Shh patting to help them regain the confidence to fall asleep independently.
AVOID OVER STIMULATION
Whether it's going to the panto, having lots of people over or generally the excitement of Christmas, the stimulation can be alot for little ones. Now the festive period has passed, it's a great time to enjoy some quieter days at home if possible. Keep the TV off and let them play with their new toys, enjoy some books and stories together and get plenty of fresh air to help aid that reset.
BE PATIENT
It might take a few days or a week to get back into your baby's usual routine, but keep consistent and you will see the rewards.
NEED HELP?
Working out your baby or child's sleep needs can be daunting and it can also cause worry that you may disrupt them or make their sleep more unbalanced that it currently is.
This is where working with a professional can help you look at your little one's current schedule, the issues you're facing and where they are in their development and whats going on in their home life and help you to build a schedule that works for your individual.
Help!
If you would like more help with your child's sleep I can help create a tailor made plan for your family based on your individual needs. Explore my packages for something that suit you
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